- The Pass Rate Reality: What TIA Actually Publishes
- How the Basic ETS Exam Is Structured
- The 15 Modules That Determine Your Outcome
- Who Actually Completes Basic ETS - And Why
- Training Costs and How They Affect Completion
- Factors That Actually Predict Success
- A Module-Aligned Study Approach
- Completion vs. Recertification: Don't Confuse the Two
- Frequently Asked Questions
- TIA does not publish a numeric pass rate for Basic ETS - it's a Certificate of Completion, not a scored percentile exam.
- Basic ETS spans 15 unweighted modules, from Introduction through Install and Remove Rim Fitment.
- Online University delivery is self-paced with knowledge checks, a final exam, and a skills-demonstration form.
- Miners under MSHA Part 46 need 8 hours of annual refresher training - a separate requirement from the Basic Certificate itself.
The Pass Rate Reality: What TIA Actually Publishes
If you searched for "ETS pass rate" hoping to find a published percentage, here's the honest answer: the Tire Industry Association (TIA), which governs Basic Earthmover Tire Service, does not publish a pass/fail percentage for this credential. Basic ETS is structured as a 200-level Certificate of Completion, not a norm-referenced exam with a publicly tracked pass rate the way some other credentialing bodies operate. Successful completion of the final exam is required to earn the certificate, but TIA has not released aggregate scoring data, cohort pass percentages, or year-over-year trend figures.
That distinction matters. A lot of exam-prep content online blends unrelated credentials that happen to share the "ETS" acronym, borrowing pass-rate statistics that have nothing to do with Basic Earthmover Tire Service. This article sticks strictly to what TIA's own materials describe: course structure, delivery formats, module scope, and completion mechanics. If a number isn't in TIA's published sources, we don't manufacture one here.
How the Basic ETS Exam Is Structured
Basic ETS training is delivered two ways: through TIA Online University, or in person using videos, workbooks, and paper exams. The Online University path is self-paced and includes instructional videos, knowledge checks along the way, a final exam, and a skills-demonstration form that verifies hands-on competency. Administrators - typically a training coordinator or shop manager - can monitor a technician's progress and test results as they move through the material.
This matters for anyone trying to gauge their odds of completion: the format isn't a single high-stakes sitting. Knowledge checks throughout the modules mean candidates get repeated feedback before the final exam, which should reduce the odds of an unpleasant surprise if you've engaged honestly with each module rather than clicking through video segments. For a full walkthrough of exactly what's tested and how, see the ETS Exam Domains 2026: Complete Guide to All 15 Content Areas.
One detail worth flagging: brochure materials reference a three-hour training video, but that runtime describes the instructional content length - it is not a timed examination limit. Don't confuse video duration with how long you'll have to complete the final exam itself.
The 15 Modules That Determine Your Outcome
Basic ETS scope is defined by 15 official modules. These are course-defined modules rather than a weighted exam blueprint - meaning there's no published percentage breakdown telling you Module 6 is worth more than Module 11. Every module is presumed relevant, which changes how you should approach review: comprehensive coverage beats trying to guess which sections carry more weight.
Domain 1: Introduction
Foundational orientation to the OTR tire service role, safety expectations, and program scope.
- Sets vocabulary and safety framing used throughout later modules
Domain 2: Tires, Rims & Valves
Component identification - the building blocks referenced in every hands-on module that follows.
- Know rim, tire, and valve terminology cold before moving further
Domain 3: Service Truck Operation
Safe operation of the mobile service truck used to reach machines in the field.
- Truck setup and positioning precede any tire work on-site
Domain 4: Site Preparation & Equipment Lifting
Ground assessment, chocking, and lifting procedures before any wheel is touched.
- Site hazards are often where real-world incidents originate
Domain 5: Hydraulic Bead Breakers & Rams
Core tooling used across nearly every later service module.
- Understand pressure, positioning, and pinch-point hazards
Domains 6 through 9 build on that tooling knowledge by walking through service on the machine: Service One-Piece on Machine, Service Three-Piece on Machine, Service Five-Piece on Machine, and Service Double Gutter on Machine. Domains 10 through 12 mirror those same rim configurations but cover service performed loose - off the machine - for One-Piece, Three-Piece, and Five-Piece assemblies. Candidates frequently underestimate how different the on-machine and loose procedures are; treating them as interchangeable is a common study mistake.
The final three modules - Wheel & Rim Fastening Systems, Install & Remove Wheel Fitment, and Install and Remove Rim Fitment - tie the earlier content together into torque sequences, fitment verification, and reassembly procedures. These closing modules tend to reward candidates who've genuinely practiced hands-on rather than only watched the video segments. For a deeper dive into difficulty patterns across all 15 areas, the How Hard Is the ETS Exam? Complete Difficulty Guide 2026 breaks down where candidates typically struggle.
Key Takeaway
Since modules are unweighted, don't skip any domain hoping it's "low value." Build a review checklist covering all 15, and use the ETS Cheat Sheet 2026: One-Page Review of Must-Know Facts as a final-pass reference rather than a primary study tool.
Who Actually Completes Basic ETS - And Why
Basic-level training is designed for two overlapping groups: new-hire technicians going through orientation, and experienced technicians who need documented training on file. That second group matters more than people assume - shops and mine operations often need a paper trail showing a technician has been formally trained, independent of how many years they've been turning wrenches.
This also explains who's hiring for it. OTR tire service roles at dealerships, mining operations, and mobile service outfits commonly look for this documented completion as a baseline credential, especially for technicians who'll be servicing earthmover-class equipment rather than passenger or light-truck tires. If you're mapping out where a completed certificate leads on the employment side, see ETS Jobs and the ETS Salary Guide 2026: Complete Earnings Analysis for context - though be aware that broad labor statistics like the BLS median wage for tire repairers and changers describe the overall occupation, not Basic ETS holders specifically or any certificate-linked pay premium.
Training Costs and How They Affect Completion
Cost structure is worth understanding because it shapes how organizations deploy training - and that, in turn, affects completion patterns. TIA publishes training-material prices rather than a single "exam fee": a Basic ETS kit (two DVDs, one workbook, one test booklet) runs $995 for members or $1,995 for non-members. Additional student workbooks with a test booklet cost $95 member / $195 non-member per copy for quantities of 1-9, and standalone extra test booklets run $75 member / $175 non-member per copy in that same quantity range. Shipping and handling are added on top.
Separately, TIA's Online University brochure lists Basic ETS access at $305 per location per year including technician certificates, or $155 per location per year without certificates - both requiring full headquarters membership plus a $20 annual per-location membership fee. Either subscription allows unlimited technicians at that location, which is a very different cost model than a per-candidate exam fee.
| Option | Format | Published Price |
|---|---|---|
| Physical kit (2 DVDs, workbook, test booklet) | In-person / self-directed | $995 member / $1,995 non-member |
| Extra workbook + test booklet | In-person | $95 member / $195 non-member (qty 1-9) |
| Extra test booklet only | In-person | $75 member / $175 non-member (qty 1-9) |
| Online University access w/ certificates | Self-paced online, unlimited technicians | $305 per location/year + $20 membership |
| Online University access w/o certificates | Self-paced online, unlimited technicians | $155 per location/year + $20 membership |
Note that these are organizational subscription and materials prices, not standalone per-candidate exam registration fees or fixed certificate validity terms. For the complete pricing picture, including how these figures compare across delivery formats, read the ETS Certification Cost 2026: Complete Pricing Breakdown.
Factors That Actually Predict Success
Without a published pass rate, the more useful question is: what actually separates a smooth completion from a struggle? A few patterns emerge directly from the program's structure:
- Engagement with knowledge checks, not just video-watching. The Online University format builds in checkpoints for a reason - candidates who skim video and skip active recall on knowledge checks tend to hit the final exam under-prepared.
- Confusing on-machine and loose procedures. Domains 6-9 (on-machine) and 10-12 (loose) cover overlapping rim types but different procedures. Treating them as one topic instead of six distinct skill sets is a common gap.
- Skipping the skills-demonstration form. This isn't paperwork to rush through - it's built into the program specifically to confirm hands-on competency alongside written knowledge.
- Underestimating fastening and fitment modules. Wheel & Rim Fastening Systems and the two fitment installation/removal modules pull together everything from earlier domains; treating them as an afterthought late in study time is a mistake.
To gauge what "passing" actually requires procedurally rather than by rumor, see ETS Passing Score 2026: Exactly What You Need to Pass, and confirm you meet baseline eligibility before you invest in a kit or subscription by checking ETS Requirements 2026: Eligibility, Prerequisites & How to Qualify.
A Module-Aligned Study Approach
Because the 15 modules aren't individually weighted, a reasonable approach is to pace review evenly rather than cramming late-stage domains. Here's a sample structure for candidates working through material alongside a full-time shop schedule:
Foundations
- Domain 1 (Introduction) and Domain 2 (Tires, Rims & Valves) - lock down terminology
- Domain 3 (Service Truck Operation) - review safe setup procedures
Site and Tooling
- Domain 4 (Site Preparation & Equipment Lifting)
- Domain 5 (Hydraulic Bead Breakers & Rams) - this tooling recurs in nearly every later module
On-Machine Service
- Domains 6-9: One-Piece, Three-Piece, Five-Piece, and Double Gutter on machine
Loose Service and Fitment
- Domains 10-12: One-Piece, Three-Piece, Five-Piece loose service
- Domains 13-15: fastening systems, wheel fitment, rim fitment - then a full skills-demonstration run-through
This kind of week-by-week pacing works better than generic study advice because it's anchored to the actual module sequence rather than an arbitrary calendar. For a more detailed walkthrough of preparation strategy tied to each domain, see the ETS Study Guide 2026: How to Pass on Your First Attempt, and consider running through timed practice scenarios on our practice test platform before your final exam attempt.
Completion vs. Recertification: Don't Confuse the Two
A frequent point of confusion is mixing Basic ETS completion with the recertification cycle that applies to the separate Certified ETS 300/400 pathway. Basic CTS and Basic ETS serve as prerequisites for that advanced, experienced-technician pathway, but the two-year online recertification rule tied to Certified ETS 300/400 does not apply to Basic ETS itself.
Keeping these three things separate - the Basic ETS Certificate of Completion, the Certified ETS 300/400 recertification cycle, and MSHA's annual refresher rule - avoids a lot of confusion when planning your training calendar. If you're still sorting out terminology basics, What Is ETS?, ETS Meaning, and What Does ETS Stand For? cover the foundational definitions, while Is the ETS Certification Worth It? Complete ROI Analysis 2026 weighs the broader career case.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. TIA's available materials describe program structure - modules, delivery format, final exam, and skills-demonstration requirements - but do not publish an aggregate pass/fail percentage for Basic ETS.
It's specifically described as a 200-level Certificate of Completion, backed by a required final exam. It's distinct from the separate Certified ETS 300/400 credential, which targets experienced OTR technicians.
Fifteen unweighted official modules define the current scope, from Introduction through Install and Remove Rim Fitment. These are course-defined modules rather than a weighted blueprint.
Not universally. There's no asserted universal expiration or CEU requirement for the Basic Certificate itself. Separate rules apply for MSHA Part 46-covered miners (annual refresher training) and for Certified ETS 300/400 (a two-year recertification cycle), but neither is a blanket rule for Basic ETS.
The physical kit ($995 member / $1,995 non-member) is a one-time materials purchase including DVDs, a workbook, and a test booklet. Online University access ($305 or $155 per location per year) is an annual organizational subscription covering unlimited technicians at that location, plus a required membership fee.